The Early Years 0-18
Known as the Garden State, this is where Connie spent the first 18 years of her life.
What is New Jersey?
Connie attended Franklin Pierce College in Rindge, New Hampshire. She graduated in three years with this degree.
What is a BA in Creative and Performing Arts or What is a degree in Theater or What is a minor in Music?
Connie's first teaching job was in 1985 in this state.
What is New Jersey?
After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in 1982 from Franklin Pierce College (University), Connie has attended Centenary College (University), Central Connecticut State University, the University of Connecticut, and now this esteemed Graduate School.
What is Bridges Graduate School?
After 25 years of teaching for LEAs, the majority in the same district where her grandmother was not permitted by HER father to attend school beyond grade 6 because she was a woman, Connie retired from public school education in 2022. Before retiring, Connie, along with her colleagues, experienced a year where they were forced to teach online because of this disease.
What is Covid19?
This person was very instrumental in her life; however they told her not to pursue a master's degree in education because she would be more educated than the men in her career.
What is her father?
After college, the year was 1982 and Connie worked for the State of New Jersey in a branch called the Department of Mental Retardation. It has since been appropriately renamed the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. At that time, she worked with disabled adults in an institutional setting and later in various sheltered workshops around the state. After being attacked by one of the clients, Connie resigned and decided to return to school and receive a degree in ______________ .
What is education?
Connie began teaching at her parish school and then moved to Connecticut. She taught in Connecticut at a boarding school in this subject, which she is highly qualified in.
What is middle school math or What is math?
Connie did not receive a degree from Central Connecticut State University because she left the state in 1988 and moved to this city on the Great Lakes.
What is Rochester, New York?
Connie began in 2019 teaching for Mast Stem Academy (MSA), a STEM-based academy that educates students online and in person in Shenzhen, China. She has presented to teachers and families affiliated with MSA on topics such as twice-exceptional students. Resources for these presentations have been developed by Dr. Sally Reis, and this well-known expert in 2e students.
Who is Dr. Susan Baum?
At 8, her mother's best friend, who was a teacher, suggested to her parents that she might have this learning disability.
What is dyslexia?
In 1985, she began teaching at her parish school. Soon after, she became engaged, married, and moved to Connecticut. While she was teaching at a boarding school and attending graduate classes at Central Connecticut State University, she learned about this individual who was writing and teaching about gifted education at UConn.
Who is Dr Joe Renzulli?
A teaching certificate from New Jersey cannot be transferred to New York State, so when she relocated to Rochester, NY, because her spouse was attending the Rochester Institute of Technology's School of American Craftsman, she accepted a position at Allendale Columbia School. There she taught technology, middle school math, and was head of this department. Ahh, Thespis would be so proud.
What is the theatre department?
This program that Connie graduated from in 2020 in a virtual ceremony, was designed for busy teachers to receive a postgraduate degree in gifted education and took place on the campus at the University of Connecticut.
What is Three Summers?
Volunteering for the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children has been an important aspect of Connie's dedication to advocating for gifted education for New Jersey's students. She has served on and chaired many committees, as well as held positions on the Board, and has regularly presented at their conferences and the New Jersey Education Association Conferences on their behalf. She currently holds this position on NJAGC's Board.
What is past president?
She did not excel in all academic areas, leading to the denial of her right to participate in accelerated classes in the eighth grade. Because she was denied, she protested to the principal, organized a meeting with her parents and the principal, and complained to many of the faculty at the school. In other words, she began her career as an ___________ for gifted individuals.
What is an advocate or advocacy?
When Connie lived in Rochester, New York, she taught at an independent school and worked with a great team of teachers. She left her job to raise her children and started writing for a newsletter aimed at stay-at-home moms. In the early 1990s, nursing mothers often had to feed their babies away from public view. Connie became a mentor for young mothers, teaching breastfeeding skills to teenage moms in Rochester. In other words, she began her career as an ___________ for underrepresented populations.
What is an advocate or advocacy?
Gifted and Talented teachers and coordinators often attend professional development opportunities. When Connie was in the last quarter of her tenured career, she often presented on this popular topic, which is recognized by the initials SEM.
What is the Schoolwide Enrichment Model?
Connie began her master's in the Three Summers Program at the University of Connecticut in 2016. Every student in the program, including Connie, must attend this summer conference/fraternity before they can receive their degree, M.A.Ed. Psy. Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development.
What is Confratute?
In 2024, Connie entered BGS as a student in this program?
What is the 2e Certificate Program?
Connie joined this organizaion through the Batter-up Club at birth because her mother was a leader. She remained an active member of this organization until she turned 18, taking on various leadership roles in different project clubs. Connie continued to lead until she retired from the organization in 2020.
This organization is a lively community that promotes values like leadership, service, and inclusion. It helps members grow and succeed. By creating a supportive environment, it encourages people to learn new skills and make friends. This positive space supports personal growth and inspires members to give back to their communities, highlighting teamwork, and collaboration. Together, members keep building a culture of excellence and inclusivity, ensuring every member feels valued and motivated to reach their potential.
What is 4-H?
In 1997, Connie left Rochester, New York, and returned to her hometown of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. She and her three children started a new life together near her family. She began working in a New Jersey public school, teaching technology and gifted education. She joined this organization, where she would later coordinate conferences.
What is the New Jersey Association for Gifted Children?
Connie continues to travel to this country to educate the students there on STEM education, provide professional development to the teaching faculty, and enjoy as much of the delicious cuisine as possible. Want to join her?
What is China?
Connie has had a wonderful learning career that has been motivated by her strong desire to advocate for gifted students to receive the services they deserve. Through the years she has been a champion for underrepresented populations, and it was Dr. Matt Zakreski who suggested she consider attending BGS to continue her studies in this field.
What is Cognitive Diversity in Education? or
What is 2e strength-based education?
Cinnamon.
What is Connie's cat?